Twelve years in the Secret Service naturally has made me
know something of men. I knew that those twelve hard-headed, cautious
Scottish jurymen would demand pretty substantial proof before
convicting. At the time I am frank to say that I did not think there
was a chance of a verdict of guilty being brought in. The evidence
against me was too vague.
Expressing astonishment at my refusal to accept counsel--which was
subsequently forced on me--His Lordship promised to guard my interest
on legal points; and guard it he did. Repeatedly he ruled against the
Solicitor General and challenged him on more than one point. I am
frank in my admiration of British justice. My trial was a model of
fairness.
On the first day I waived examination on all witnesses but the naval
and military experts. I directed my fire against Rear Admiral
T. B. Stratton Adair, who superintended the ordnance factories of the
Beardmore Gun Works in Glasglow. The Admiral a typical English
gentleman of the naval officer type, long, lank with a rather ascetic,
clear-cut Roman head, not unlike Chamberlain in general appearance,
even to the single eye-glass, did not make much of a showing as an
expert witness for the prosecution. The Admiral was called in on
testimony concerning the new fourteen-inch gun. The point they were
trying to establish was that it was impossible for a man to have my
knowledge of these guns unless he had obtained it first hand from the
works in Glasgow.
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